![]() What could have been: In a sense, the Hornets dodged a bullet. New Orleans Hornets Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images The West is still stacked at the top, including the Warriors, Spurs, and Rockets, but barring an unforeseen set of unfortunate circumstances, the Clippers seem ready to make the jump many have anticipated for years. Injuries plagued the team during a promising 2016 playoffs run, but Los Angeles has bounced back ready to finally compete for a long-awaited title run. Today: Despite a core of Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers have yet to advance past the second round of the playoffs. And as the Lakers began to self-destruct, the Clippers evolved into the most exciting team Los Angeles had to offer. The balance of power shifted as the Clippers and Lakers forged a true rivalry. No longer were they the other team in Los Angeles. The Paul acquisition paved the way for Doc Rivers’ exodus from Boston to coach the Clippers (oddly in exchange for a future draft pick). What was: In exchange for three rotation players, the Clippers landed a superstar point guard who changed the trajectory of the franchise forever. The Clippers also could have retained Minnesota’s draft pick, No. All they needed was the talent and leadership at point guard to take the next step. The Clippers also had a young Eric Bledsoe, a thriving Gordon (22.3 points per game), and an emerging DeAndre Jordan. Blake Griffin had just returned from a devastating, season-ending injury to win Rookie of the Year in 2011. What could have been: The Clippers weren’t a thought in the original deal that could have sent Paul to the Lakers. Hornets receive: C Chris Kaman, G Eric Gordon, F Al-Farouq Aminu, Timberwolves unprotected 2012 draft pick (Austin Rivers)Ĭlippers receive: PG Chris Paul The Ripple Effect Los Angeles Clippers Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images Lakers receive: PG Chris Paul (from Hornets) The (Actual) Trade Houston receives: PF/C Pau Gasol (from Lakers) Hornets receive: F Lamar Odom (from Lakers), F Luis Scola (from Houston), G Kevin Martin (from Houston), G Goran Dragic (from Houston), owners, that the team was better served with Chris (Paul) in a Hornets uniform than by the outcome of the terms of that trade.” But it’s hard to imagine letters from Gilbert and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban fell on deaf ears. In the end, Stern rejected the trade citing “basketball reasons.” The league commissioner, per Howard Beck of The New York Times, said the decision was made “free from the influence of other N.B.A. “I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do.” “It would be a travesty to allow the Lakers to acquire Chris Paul in the apparent trade being discussed,” Gilbert wrote, citing Los Angeles would save $40 million in the deal while acquiring the best player in the transaction without giving up any draft picks. So, the league’s small-market owners begged for competitive balance.Ĭavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sent Stern a letter in vehement objection to the trade, posing the decision should be split among remaining owners. ![]() 8, 2011, the NBA owned the Hornets, with the 29 other team owners acting as principal shareholders. Paul was entering a contract year in New Orleans just as the NBA wrapped up a 161-day lockout over labor negotiations. The trade would have positioned the Lakers to be title contenders for the foreseeable future. The thought of what could have been haunted Kobe Bryant for years.įive years ago, then-NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed what would have been a history-altering trade to pair superstar point guard Chris Paul with Bryant in the Los Angeles Lakers’ back court. ![]()
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